Appearance and Character

Daemon was a skilled warrior described in the histories as dashing, daring and dangerous. He was also ambitious, impetuous, mercurial, amoral, reckless and quick to take offense.[5] Archmaester Gyldayn described Daemon as being as charming as he was hot tempered.[1].

Daemon' first marriage was to Lady Rhea Royce, but he disliked both her and the Vale of Arryn. During the Great Council of 101 AC, Daemon supported the claim of Prince Viserys, as it would make Daemon the heir after his brother. Daemon gathered a small army when it was rumored that Lord Corlys Velaryon was readying a fleet to defend the rights of his son, Laenor Velaryon.[5]

Daemon was appointed Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing, a position he thrived in and maintained for two years. Daemon inspired loyalty with many of the rank-and-file men of the City Watch, improving their armaments and equipment. He gave every man a golden cloak, which led to the guards becoming known as the gold cloaks. Crime fell sharply under Daemon's command, likely due to his love of inflicting harsh punishments on thieves and cutpurses. Daemon developed a dark reputation in the stews and brothels. He became acquainted with a prostitute named Mysaria who would serve as his mistress of whisperers in the streets of Flea Bottom. While Daemon called himself the "Prince of the City", he became known as "Lord Flea Bottom" among the residents of King's Landing.

Daemon considered himself his brother's heir as Viserys had no living sons, and he coveted the title Prince of Dragonstone, which the king refused to grant. Otto Hightower equally did not want Daemon to follow Viserys and proposed the idea that Viserys's daughter, Rhaenyra, should be named heir. Viserys did not address the issue of inheritance, hoping a future son would settle the issue.[1]

Viserys's first wife, Aemma Arryn, died birthing Baelon Targaryen, Viserys's second son, the first having died in the cradle. Baelon died a day after his birth, however. Daemon was observed in a brothel in the Street of Silk making drunken japes about the "heir for a day". When word of this reached the grieving Viserys, the enraged king had Rhaenyra declared heir in response to his ungrateful brother's apathy. Daemon left the capital in a fury.[1]

On Dragonstone, Daemon impregnated his lover, Mysaria. He wanted to present her with a dragon egg. The angry Viserys demanded that Daemon return the egg and that he return to Rhea in the Vale. Daemon sent Mysaria to Lys, but Mysaria's ship sailed through a storm in the narrow sea and Mysaria lost the child. This hardened Daemon against his brother.[1]

Neither age or exile had changed Daemon's nature, however. He took up again with old companions in the City Watch and returned to the brothels on the Street of Silk. Daemon was cold with Viserys's second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, and her children, who had pushed him further down in the line of succession. Daemon spent hours in the company of his niece, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, praising her beauty, enthralling her with tales of his adventures, giving her gifts, and mocking her stepmother and her greens.

Six months after his return, it was rumored that Daemon took Rhaenyra's virginity prior to her sixteenth name day. Lord Lyonel Strong counseled the livid Viserys that Daemon should be executed for treason. Septon Eustace, however, reminded the council about the taint of kinslaying, and Daemon was exiled instead.[1] Daemon returned to Bloodstone in the Stepstones and resumed his struggle over his barren kingdom.[1]

Second marriage

Daemon's wife, Rhea Royce, died from falling from a horse in 115 AC. Daemon departed to the Vale of Arryn to claim Runestone, which had been Rhea's seat, but he was refused by House Royce. Not welcome in the Vale, Daemon turned to Driftmark, where he laid eyes upon the enchanting Laena Velaryon, the beautiful daughter of his friend, Lord Corlys. After killing in a duel Laena's betrothed, the son of the Sealord of Braavos, Daemon asked the Sea Snake for his daughter's hand. While singers say Daemon fell in love with Laena at first sight, others state Daemon married into mighty House Velaryon to check his own descent from power, as he had been pushed far down the line of succession and made many enemies in his adventures.

Because the marriage had been without consent of King Viserys I Targaryen, Daemon and Laena left Westeros, abandoned the Stepstones, and toured the Free Cities. They remained in Pentos for some time when they learned that Laena was pregnant, causing their daughters Baela and Rhaena to be born there in 116 AC. Daemon wrote his brother begging leave to present his daughters to court to receive a royal blessing. The small council advised the king to refuse, but Viserys replied, "Daemon is a father now. He will have changed."[1]

Viserys's daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was wed to Laena's brother, Ser Laenor Velaryon. While Rhaenrya disliked her stepmother, Queen Alicent Hightower, she became fond of Laena, and the two often rode together on their dragons. With the blessing of King Viserys, Rhaenyra betrothed her two eldest sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon, to Baela and Rhaena. Laena died in 120 AC, however, trying to birth Daemon a son who died as well.

Third marriage

In 120 AC Daemon married again, this time to his niece, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. This marriage was performed suddenly without the knowledge of King Viserys I Targaryen, and was scandalous since neither Laena nor Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra's previous husband, had been dead for six months. According to Mushroom, it was Daemon who arranged the death of Laenor by paying Ser Qarl Correy to kill him, thus making Rhaenyra available to marry.[1]

Daemon abandoned Harrenhal when Aemond and Criston began marching on the great castle with a host of greens. Instead, Daemon flew Caraxes back to King's Landing and assisted Rhaenyra with capturing King's Landing.[3]

While searching for Aemond and Vhagar, who were burning the riverlands, Daemon took Nettles for a bedmate and made their base in Maidenpool. Maester Norren informed Daemon that Queen Rhaenyra wanted Nettles dead, to which Daemon replied, "A queen's words, a whore's work."[3] Daemon thanked the maester for the warning and he and Nettles separated the next morning.[3]

Daemon challenged Aemond, waiting for thirteen days at Harrenhal until Aemond stopped burning the riverlands to come face him. The Battle Above the Gods Eye ended in the deaths of both riders and both dragons. Daemon was forty-nine when he died. Unlike Aemond's body, however, Daemon's was never found. Singers say that Daemon lived to spend the rest of his days in secret with Nettles, but most historians disagree.[3]

The whore on Dragonstone is not the threat. No more than Rowan and these traitors in the Reach. The danger is my uncle. Once Daemon is dead, all these fools flying our sister's banners will run back to their castles and trouble us no more.[3]